Celebrate Latin heritage
The eighth annual Latino Heritage Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 4 and Sunday, Sept. 5 at Des Moines Water Works Park, 410 Fleur Drive. The largest Latino Festival in the state will include music, exhibitors, talent search, children’s activities, a poster contest, food, dance, live entertainment and the fourth Annual Latino Talent Search. Admission is $5 for adults and children ages 3 to 12 are $1. Times are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www.latinoheritagefestival.org.
Enter the gates of Enlightenment
The fifth annual Des Moines Renaissance Faire will take place Saturday, Sept. 4 to Monday, Sept. 6, along with Sept. 11-12 and 18-19 on the grounds of Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, 4051 Dean Ave. Over the course of three weekends, the Faire will feature “Knights, Barbarians and Heroes,” “Scots, Britons and Irish” and “Pirates, Persians and Buccaneers.” Visit www.dmrenfaire.com.
Fit into those shoes
The second annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes walk-a-thon is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at Copper Creek Lake and Park, 4390 East University Ave., in Pleasant Hill. All proceeds will benefit Hope Ministries’ programs and services to homeless men, women and children. Registration begins at 9 a.m. For more information and to register, visit www.hopeiowa.org.
Light up the track
The 2010 Hobby Haven Off-Road Shootout will take place Friday, Sept. 3 through Sunday, Sept. 5 at Hobby Haven, 2575 86th St., in Urbandale. The three-day event will include trophies and door prizes, and runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission is free. Pre-register your vehicle at www.rcsignup.com or call 276-8785.
Unleash the dogs
The first annual Just Wag It! Dog Walk benefiting AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport will be held Sept. 11 at the Raccoon River Park’s Coneflower Shelter, 2500 Grand Ave., in West Des Moines. Registration and check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m. Activities include a silent auction, pet photography and demonstrations by Iowa Search and Rescue. Registration is $25. Call 771-5459 or 508-9911. CV
